Weekly Economic Update

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WEEKLY RIDDLE

It can be told, played, and cracked and it can even be practical as well. What is it?

Last week’s riddle:

What do the words civic and level have in common?

Last week’s answer:

They are palindromes.

July 14, 2014

FED PLANS TO STOP EASING THIS FALL

June’s Federal Reserve policy meeting minutes outlined the central bank’s exit plan from QE3. The Fed will continue tapering its monthly asset purchases in a series of $10 billion cuts, then make a last $15 billion cut in late October. The June minutes offered no hint of change on interest rates; Fed officials are widely expected to adjust short-term rates in 2015. The Fed actually lessened its medium-term inflation forecast, and the minutes showed general agreement for reinvesting proceeds from maturing bonds until a rate hike occurs.1,2

U.S. BUDGET DEFICIT COULD BE SMALLEST IN 6 YEARS

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the federal deficit totaled $366 billion nine months into the current fiscal year – a 28% reduction from the previous year. (Chalk that up partly to federal tax receipts increasing 8% for FY 2014.) The CBO sees a $492 billion federal deficit for the full budget year ending Sept. 30.3

OIL DIPS BELOW $101 AS SUPPLY FEARS DIMINISH

Futures dropped 3.1% last week, closing at $100.83 Friday on the NYMEX. Risks to supplies in Iraq and Libya lessened, and American crude inventories expanded.4

BANK STRESS IN EUROPE HELPS SEND STOCKS SOUTH

When the parent company of Portuguese lender Banco Espirito Santo missed debt payments last week, a blip of anxiety about eurozone banks hit the market. That contributed to the following weekly performances: S&P 500, -0.90% to 1,967.57; DJIA, -0.73% to 16,943.81; NASDAQ, -1.57% to 4,415.49.4,5,6

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Securities and advisory services offered through National Planning Corporation (NPC), Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.

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This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is an unmanaged, market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx®, and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world's largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.